The Best Martial Arts Movies

Martial art is a collection of several different fighting methods. These several different methods have evolved in ancient Asia. Martial art is a fighting and defense method used for several ages by many people. There are various forms of martial arts practiced all around the world. Some of these forms are Jujutsu, Aikido, Kuk Sool Won, Judo, Karate, Kung Fu, Muay Thai, Kyudo, Ninpo, Taekwondo, Wushu and Tai Chi.

We always get fascinated when we see a martial artists kicking the butt of the villains in a movie. Heroes in movies based on martial arts fight hundreds of men with their bare hands and win the hearts of the audience. Many famous actors like Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Jet Li and Tony Jaa have appeared in some of the best martial arts movies.

If you want to know about some of the best martial arts movies that are a must watch for people, then you are at the right place. Here we have given a list of famous martial arts movies that you can consider to add to your watch list.

Ip Man:

Directed by: Wilson Yip; starring Donnie Yen, Simon Yam and Siu-Wong Fan: Ip Man is a great martial arts movie based on Bruce Lee’s martial arts teacher. Bruce Lee once said that he was taught and trained by a man named Ip Man. He also said that he was an honest man who not only taught him to fight but also taught some moral values. The movie portrays Ip Man, who was born in times when China was going through a bad phase. There were many evils in the society who were weakening the social and economic aspects of China. So, Ip Man tries to rise above all the disbelieves and fights against the evil lurking in his society.

Fearless:

Directed by: Ronny; Starring: Jet Li, Shido Nakamura and Betty Sun Yu: Plot of Fearless is set in Shanghai, China in the year 1910. The story is about Huo Yuanjia played by Jet Li who is a Kung Fu master. He is preparing himself for a battle against his Japanese opponent Tanaka played by Shidou Nakamura. In order to compete with Tanaka in the finals, Huo has to defeat three American martial artists. Then the story goes into Huo’s past where he is a child and his parents do not support him to learn Kung Fu. So, this fighting fan sneaks out every day to learn martial arts from his master.

The Chinese Connection:

Directed by: Wei Lo; Starring: Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, James Tien: The Chinese Connection is considered as one of the best action movies of Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee plays the role of an early 20th century martial artist Chen Chen, who has returned to his previous school in Shanghai. Bruce Lee comes to know that his instructor, whom he loved very much, has been murdered. So, he sets out to take the revenge of his teacher’s murder. On his quest, Bruce Lee discovers that the reason for his master’s murder is a drug smuggling operation and racial tensions between Chinese and Japanese. So, he fights the people of both the races and kills the assassins of his teacher.

The Legend of Drunken Master:

Directed by: Chia-Liang Liu and Jackie Chan; Starring: Jackie Chan: Wong Fei Hong played by Jackie Chan, is a young master of the martial art form drunken boxing. In this form of martial arts, the fighter uses alcohol to overcome pain and increase his anger. However, under the influence of alcohol, Hong becomes a furious man who can fight hundreds of enemies alone. While on a voyage with his father, Hong discovers that their luggage is being stolen by some thugs. So, he starts fighting with them and in this encounter, he finds that these thugs are trying to steal some precious artifacts to England. So, he sets out to save the artifacts and return them to the right owner.

Enter the Dragon:

Directed by: Robert Clouse; Starring: Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Jim Kelly: Another masterpiece that displayed some of the best fighting skills and techniques of Bruce Lee is Enter the Dragon. The film was a great success and helped Bruce Lee to reach at the peak of his career. In this movie Lee has to fight a drug dealer who is also responsible for his sister’s death. The villain lives in a heavily guarded palace and is a great Kung Fu enthusiast who holds a Kung Fu competition every year. So, Lee enters this competition and fights all the competitors and finally gets to the villain.

Fist of Legend:

Directed by: Gordon Chan; Starring: Jet Li, Shinobu Nakayama, Siu-hou Chin: The story of the movie is set in Japan in 1920. Jet Li playing the character of Chen Zhen, is a Chinese student who visits Japan. During his stay in Japan, Li comes to know that his teacher has been murdered by Japanese. So, he goes back to China to take revenge of his teacher’s murder but is caught between the racial tension between Chinese and Japanese people. This story is greatly inspired by Bruce Lee’s Fists of Fury.

Undisputed 3 Redemption:

Directed by: Isaac Florentine; Starring: Scott Adkins, Mykel Shannon Jenkins, Mark Ivanir: This is an epic story about eight enslaved brawlers who have to compete with each other in order to gain their freedom. This competition is organized by an underground gambling ring. However, Scott Adkins playing the character of Boyka, comes to know that the organizer has no intention of freeing the prisoners and is plotting so that no one could win. So, he fights this crooked villain to achieve his freedom.

Ong-bak:

Directed by: Prachya Pinkaew; starring: Tony Jaa: Ong-bak was the debut movie of Thai stuntman Tony Jaa. Tony playing the character of Ting, lives in a rural village of Thailand. He is a young martial arts warrior. The village temple has a very rare statue of Buddha whose head is made up of a precious and rare metal. A gang of thieves steals this head and Ting is sent in search of the head of the statue to Bangkok. Ting faces a big and dangerous underworld gang that deals in smuggling stolen artifacts to other countries. So, Ting uses his martial arts skills to fight the gang and return the head of Buddha to its right place.

The Way of the Dragon:

Directed and written by: Bruce Lee; Starring: Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Nora Miao: Tang Lung is a young martial artist who is sent from Hong Kong to Rome to help his Uncle Wang, and niece Chen Ching-hua. The restaurant owned by Tang’s uncle is being targeted by the local mafia. Tang comes to know that not only his uncle but other restaurant owners are also targeted by this local mafia. So, he gathers all the restaurant workers and teaches them Chinese Boxing so that they start a war against this mafia. The film consists of some of the best martial arts fights.

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon:

Directed by: Ang Lee; Starring: Yun-Fat Chow, Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang: The story is based in early 19th century where martial arts master Li Mu Bai played by Chow Yun-Fat is thinking of his retirement. He wishes to live a life of meditation and peace, but he secretly wants to revenge the death of his master who was killed by Jade Fox played by Cheng Pei Pei. Yu Shu Lien played by Michelle Yeoh is a friend of Li. Li gives her the sword given to him by his master so that she can get it to Sir Te played by Sihung Lung. However, the sword gets stolen by Jen played by Zhang Ziyi, who is a bubbly, determined daughter of a politician. So, Yu is in a pursuit to find Jen and retrieve the sword from her.